MOGADISHU , Somalia -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Fresh fighting between Ethiopian-backed government forces and Islamic insurgents in Somalia 's capital city of Mogadishu reportedly killed at least 10 people Sunday , eyewitnesses said .

A man walks past the rubble of a building destroyed in Sunday 's fighting

The two sides pounded each other with artillery , sending children scurrying and bringing business at the city 's main market to a standstill .

`` The fighting is so heavy and a barrage of mortar bombs is hitting many parts in Bakara market , killing people and causing heavy damages of buildings '' said Ali Abdulkadir , a cloth trader at the city 's main Bakara Market .

Hawo Abdi Oman , another eyewitness at the market , said a shell landed in an area crowded with people , killing nine civilians . Among the dead , she said , were two children and four women .

The market , a rebel stronghold , has been the site of numerous clashes since early last year .

In a nearby neighborhood , Geed Jaceyl , a shell landed on a house , crushing it . A woman who was inside was killed , witnesses said .

A second shell landed near a religious school , sending children running for cover . No one was injured in that incident .

The presence of Ethiopian troops trying to help defend a transitional government 's hold on Mogadishu has united Islamic militant groups seeking to gain control of the city .

In 2006 , the Islamic Courts Union -- a militia group -- ousted Somalia 's transitional government from power . But the ICU was deposed in December of that year following Ethiopia 's military invasion .

Since then , insurgent groups have been trying to destabilize the government .

Somalia 's current transitional government is trying to maintain control of the capital , with the help of the better-equipped Ethiopian forces .

The violence has displaced more than 40,000 civilians who have taken shelter in dozens of makeshift settlements west of Mogadishu .

Somalia has been mired in chaos since 1991 , when warlords overthrew dictator Mohamed Siad Barre and sparked brutal clan infighting .

Sunday 's fighting came a day after suspected insurgents killed a local reporter , who freelanced for the BBC and Reuters news agency . The national union of journalists in Somalia called the death of Nasteh Dahir Farah a `` targeted assassination . ''

He was the 10th reporter killed in the war-torn nation since last year .

Farah , 36 , was gunned down on his way home from work in the southern city of Kismayu , according to the National Union of Somali Journalists .

-- Journalist Mohamed Amiin Adow contributed to this report

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Fighting between government forces and insurgents in Mogadishu kills at least 10

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Shell lands in an area crowded with people , killing a group of civilians

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Women and children among the dead , according to witnesses